Genoese Palace

Historical Places İstanbul

The Genoese Palace (Turkish: Ceneviz Sarayı; Italian: Palazzo del Comune, lit. 'Palace of the Commune'), alternatively known as the Palace of the Podestà (Turkish: Podesta Sarayı), is a medieval palac...

Genoese Palace - İstanbul
Photo: Unknown, before 1880 · Public domain

About Genoese Palace

The Genoese Palace (Turkish: Ceneviz Sarayı; Italian: Palazzo del Comune, lit. 'Palace of the Commune'), alternatively known as the Palace of the Podestà (Turkish: Podesta Sarayı), is a medieval palace in Galata (the modern Karaköy quarter in the Beyoğlu district of Istanbul), which was a colony of the Republic of Genoa between 1273 and 1453.

It was built in 1314 (damaged by fire in 1315 and repaired in 1316) by Montano De Marini, the Podestà of Galata. In terms of design it was modeled after the 13th-century wing of the Palazzo San Giorgio in Genoa, Italy.

The building's appearance remained largely unchanged until 1880, when its front (southern) facade on Bankalar Caddesi (facing the Golden Horn), together with about two-thirds of the building, was demolished for constructing the street's tramway line. The front facade was later reconstructed in the 1880s with a different style and became a 5-floor office building named Bereket Han, while its rear (northern) facade on Kart Çınar Street (and the remaining one-third of the palace building) has retained the materials and design of the original structure, but needs restoration.

It is a short walk to the left (west) of the Camondo Steps, on Kart Çınar Street, which was historically known as the Rue Camondo in the 19th and early 20th centuries.

In 2021 the Genoese coat-of-arms of Luchino De Fazio, the Podestà of Pera (dating from c. 1446–1447), on the building's surviving rear facade on Kart Çınar Street, was stolen.

In 2022 the building was put up for sale after years of neglect.

This description is taken from Wikipedia and published under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence. Genoese Palace

Location and Access

Genoese Palace is located in İstanbul. Coordinates are 41.02446, 28.97290. You can get directions from the map below. You can request a licensed local guide for İstanbul.

Get directions

Places to Visit Near Genoese Palace

Ceneviz Ticaret Odası Historical Places
0.0 km
Galata Sarayı Historical Places

Galata Sarayı

Beyoğlu
0.0 km
0.0 km
St George Catholic Church Religious Sites
0.1 km
Galata İngiliz Karakolu Historical Places
0.1 km
Merkez Bankası Binası - İstanbul Historical Places
0.1 km
Galata Sur Kalıntısı 13 Historical Places
0.1 km
Galata Sur Kalıntısı 14 Historical Places
0.1 km

Historical Places in İstanbul

Venetian Palace - İstanbul Historical Places

Venetian Palace

Beyoğlu 1695
Tünel - İstanbul Historical Places

Tünel

Beyoğlu 1875
Suriye Pasajı - İstanbul Historical Places

Suriye Pasajı

Beyoğlu
Galata Tower - İstanbul Historical Places

Galata Tower

Beyoğlu Ceneviz · 1348
Marble Pavilion - İstanbul Historical Places

Marble Pavilion

Üsküdar
Fountain of Ahmed III (Üsküdar) - İstanbul Historical Places

Frequently Asked Questions

Genoese Palace is located in İstanbul. Coordinates: 41.02446, 28.97290.

A visit of 1-2 hours is usually enough; it can be combined with other stops nearby into a half-day route.

Yes. You can request a licensed local guide in İstanbul and visit Genoese Palace with a professional tour guide.

Quick Facts

Request a Guided Tour

Visit Genoese Palace with a licensed professional guide in İstanbul.

See guides in İstanbul